The Shiji, also referred to as the Records of the Grand Historian or The Grand Scribe's Records, is a foundational Chinese historical text. It holds the distinction of being the first entry in the Twenty-Four Histories of imperial China.
Written during the late 2nd and early 1st centuries BC by the historian Sima Qian, the work was built upon research initiated by his father, Sima Tan. The text provides a comprehensive account of Chinese history spanning approximately 2,500 years, beginning with the era of the legendary Yellow Emperor and concluding with the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.
The Shiji serves as a primary record describing the world as it was understood by the Chinese during the Western Han dynasty. It remains a central source for understanding early imperial history and cultural development in China.